The Police Benevolent Association of White Plains President, Rob Riley, announced today that an arbitrator has ruled in favor of the City of White Plains pattern bargaining tradition and denied raises to police awarding the same zero increases taken by the White Plains Fire Firefighters.

The arbitrator has left intact the 25% share of health benefit premiums, new hired officers have to pay for the first five years, after which the city pays all the health care premiums.

Riley told WPCNR the union now will go back into negotiations with the city for the past contract years 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15.

He issued this statement to WPCNR on the decision:

“We actually did better at arbitration than any offer we got from the City, which should tell you something about how little the City thinks of its police and a reason morale is so low. While disappointed about the result on wages, we were at least able to protect against substantive changes to many of our core benefits, including health insurance. If it were not for the firefighters deals, we would have gotten at least some cost of living raise. We look forward to getting back to the bargaining table and hope the City will come to the table in good faith and a true desire to mend our broken relationship.